BLOOD “ For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). It is believed that President George Washington died because his physicians did not consider this verse: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” They practiced bloodletting to let the “bad” blood out of his system, and Washington died. The Bible teaches that a blood sacrifice is necessary for the forgiveness of sins: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus’s death was a sacrificial “shedding of blood” for the forgiveness of our sins. Had Christ been hit over the head, strangled, poisoned, etc., God would not have accepted His sacrifice for sins. His death would not have been enough, but “it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” In the 21st century, some think of themselves as too civilized to talk about the blood of Christ. But the Bible warns us not to consider the blood of Christ an “unholy thing” (Hebrews 10:29). Today there are Bible versions and songbooks that have taken out the references to the blood of Christ. But in heaven the redeemed of the Lord will sing about His “blood” (Revelation 5:9).
Statements such as “I believe Christ shed His blood, while He was dying for our sins” may sound like the person is in agreement that the blood of Christ is necessary, but that is not the meaning of such a “tricky” statement. The person who makes such a statement is only saying that “while He was dying for our sins,” He just happened to be shedding His blood at the same time. The Lord’s Table has two elements: the bread, which represents Christ’s body, and the cup: “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27–28). It is faith in the blood of Christ that forgives sin, not the communion cup, which only represents the blood for Christ. But both elements, the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, are given in the Lord’s Table, and we are specifically told by Christ that the cup represents “my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” If someone believes it was only the death of Christ that was necessary for the forgiveness of sins, then he should partake of only the unleavened bread of the communion table and no longer take the cup.
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). The Bible says we were redeemed by the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14, and many other such verses).
Statements such as “I believe Christ shed His blood, while He was dying for our sins” may sound like the person is in agreement that the blood of Christ is necessary, but that is not the meaning of such a “tricky” statement. The person who makes such a statement is only saying that “while He was dying for our sins,” He just happened to be shedding His blood at the same time. The Lord’s Table has two elements: the bread, which represents Christ’s body, and the cup: “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27–28). It is faith in the blood of Christ that forgives sin, not the communion cup, which only represents the blood for Christ. But both elements, the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, are given in the Lord’s Table, and we are specifically told by Christ that the cup represents “my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” If someone believes it was only the death of Christ that was necessary for the forgiveness of sins, then he should partake of only the unleavened bread of the communion table and no longer take the cup.
“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). The Bible says we were redeemed by the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14, and many other such verses).
